Contribution for legal aid

From 1 March 2026

Introduction of a contribution to bring cases before the courts

Publié le 02 mars 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Since 1er in march, you may be asked to contribute to legal aid when you go to court. This measure is the result of the 2026 budget law. In what cases will this contribution be paid? How much is it? Public Service inform you.

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Any person who engages civil proceedings before the court of law or an action before the labor court must now pay a contribution for legal aid in the amount of €50.

This mandatory contribution applies to procedures at first instance.

It must be paid at the time of filing the motion or summons with a tax stamp that can only be purchased online. You will need to attach the proof of payment to your file.

The stamp is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. You can request a refund within 18 months if you have not used it.

If you hire a lawyer, they can advance the payment and include it in their bill of fees so as not to delay the proceedings.

Warning  

The contribution must be paid at the time of the application for judicial proceedings. In the event of non-payment, you will be given a 15-day period to adjust. After this period, your application is considered inadmissible and you will have to reapply.

FYI  

You are not affected by the legal aid contribution if you are a recipient of legal aid.

A number of procedures do not require payment of the contribution. You can find the list of these procedures on the Public Service : How to buy a tax stamp to initiate civil proceedings or appeal a civil decision?

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